IP, IT and telecoms in
Estonia

Ellex

Ellex works across the full practice area, advising clients in the technology, telecoms, and media industries, alongside a unique capability in patent litigation, thanks to the dual qualification of senior associate Mari Must as a trade mark attorney. Clients include Bayer Pharma and the Estonian Author's Society. Practice head Ants Nõmper represented AstraZeneca in a damages claim against KRKA relating to the sale of a generic medicinal project in breach of the client's patent.

Practice head(s):

Ants Nõmper

Key clients

All Media Eesti AS

Kikas OÜ

Daiichi Sankyo Europe

Bayer Pharma AG

Telia Eesti AS

T-TAMMER OÜ

Estonian Authors’ Association

Tallinna LennujaamAS

Elering AS

Jobbatical OÜ

Work highlights

Acting for Bayer in a series of disputes relating to damages over infringement of the client’s intellectual property.

Advising the state-owned SA Viljandi Haigla on the procurement procedure for the purchase of the hospital’s new central information system.

Advising Tera Ventures, an Estonia-based early stage tech venture capital fund, on the formation and launch of its second fund – Tera Ventures Fund II – with a target fund size of €55m.

Sorainen has a particular strength in IP work, including trade mark registration, customs registry, and trade mark disputes. In headline work, it is notably representing Nascar in a dispute with Amaxa Pharma. On the IT side, the firm focuses primarily on data protection and privacy, alongside cryptocurrency work, regulatory compliance, and advice to clients in the telecoms industry. The practice is led by experienced IP lawyer Kaupo Lepasepp alongside Mihkel Miidla, who is strong in IT and telecoms-related work.

Practice head(s):

Kaupo Lepasepp; Mihkel Miidla

Key clients

Toyota Baltic

Sandoz d.d. Estonian branch

Atria Eesti AS

Olympic Entertainment Group

Work highlights

Cobalt

Egon Talur leads the practice at Cobalt, which primarily handles data privacy and IP concerns, alongside representing clients in trade mark litigation. It is a popular choice for clients in the IT sector - fraud prevention company Dataminer is a client - as well as online gambling companies. Senior associate Viive Kaur is a specialist in trade mark litigation and copyright law.

Key clients

Work highlights

Advised Studioworks OÜ on setting up its internal data privacy structure, with a focus on employees and internal privacy notices.

Acting for Open on IT agreements.

Derling Primus

Derling Primus' workload includes advising on trade mark issues for a range of clients, as well as handling day-to-day IT and procurement considerations, supporting start-ups, and advising a number of banking clients on licensing, alternative payment and privacy considerations. Other clients operate primarily in the IT, tech, and retail sectors. The practice is led by Toomas Taube, a specialist in IP advice and enforcement alongside trade mark litigation. Hannes Vallikivi acts for clients in the financial services sector on IT matters. Ave Piik left the firm.

Practice head(s):

Toomas Taube

Key clients

Avon

Teva Pharmaceutical

EMC Computer Systems Austria GmbH

Estonian subsidiary of Michelin Group

Latvian Mobile Telephone (LMT)

Mentum AS

IPF Digital Group

AS Liviko

Triolab Oy

Work highlights

Advising Teva Pharmaceutical on the supplementary protection of certain pharmaceuticals.

The 'outstanding' Tambet Toomela leads the practice at Eversheds Sutherland Ots & Co, which has a strong focus on IP litigation. It also acts for clients including Samsung Electronics on IP and data protection matters, as well as drafting commercial IT agreements. The firm advises a number of international clients, most notably Cambridge University, and has strong cross-border capabilities, with matters including software management and IP disputes.

Practice head(s):

Tambet Toomela

Testimonials

‘They are quick to react and have demonstrated good understanding of touching points of legal and business matters. Their work in IT and IP related matters, including contractual matters, is exceptionally good.’

‘Very competent, committed, fast to respond and flexible team.’

Key clients

Titanium Systems

Epicor Software

All Media Eesti AS

Cambridge Assessment Overseas Limited

Defendec Holding OÜ

AS FEB

Icosagen Cell factory

MeetFrank OÜ

Samsung Electronics

Vequrity OÜ

Work highlights

Advised Cambridge University on the negotiation and drafting of a service agreement for providing English language proficiency test services to Estonian public schools.

Advising Samsung on various IP and data protection matters.

Represented Titanium Systems in an IP dispute with Car Target.

Magnusson

Elvira Tulvik heads the practice at Magnusson, which handles data protection, compliance, and licensing matters, with a particular specialism acting for fintech clients and e-payment providers, including Folkefinans and Spectrofinance. Senior associates Sille Eerik and Mirjam Võsu are noted for their expertise in IT law. In a difficult market for traditional banking transactions, the team advises businesses on obtaining operation licences in Estonia for operating a virtual currency exchange and offering wallet services.

Advokaadibüroo PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal OÜ

The team at Advokaadibüroo PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal OÜ acts for clients from multiple industries in litigation and advisory work. In one highlight, the team is representing Gemalto, the producer of Estonian ID-card chips, in a series of complex civil disputes against the Republic of Estonia and Idemia France, valued at around €200m. Other work includes day-to-day IT advice and patent litigation. IP and IT specialist Priit Lätt leads the practice alongside Imbi Jürgen. Mari-Liis Orav is now with TGS Baltic.

Practice head(s):

Priit Lätt; Imbi Jürgen

Key clients

Gemalto

Guardtime

Estonian Authors’ Society and other eight collective societies (including the Estonian Performers Society and the Estonian Association of Phonogram Producers)

Tieto

Alvogen/Synthon

Pipedrive

Estonian Railways

Estonian E-Residency team

Realeyes

Telia

SK ID Solutions

Work highlights

Representing Gemalto AG – the producer of Estonian ID-card chips – in a series of complex civil disputes against the Republic of Estonia and Idemia France.

Representing EAÜ and other collective societies against the government in a case regarding the blank tape levy.

Hedman Partners

Hedman Partners 'understands start-ups better then anyone else in Estonia' and has a core focus acting for Estonian start-ups in numerous industries, including legal services, transport, banking and real estate. The practice also handles data protection and IT services matters, and also receives a steady stream of instructions relating to the music industry. On the litigation side, the group is representing the Estonian government in a copyright dispute against Estonian authors and performers societies. The 'hands-on'Toomas Seppel, who was promoted to partner in 2019, heads the team.

Practice head(s):

Toomas Seppel

Testimonials

‘Hedman Partners has built strong competence and expertise in startup sector, advising numerous investment rounds and exits from both sides of the table. There is a firm belief and trust in their commercial knowledge.’

‘Hedman understand startups better then anyone else in Estonia.’

Key clients

Hugo OÜ

RebelRoam OÜ

Bankish OÜ

Outfunnel OÜ

Bidrent OÜ

Inzmo Gmbh

Dream Group OÜ

Mikaels Labs OÜ

Haut.AI OÜ

Government of Estonia

Namefactory OÜ

Work highlights

Advised Hugo on its launch of the HUGO.legal marketplace for lawyers.

Representing the government of Estonia in a copyright dispute against Estonian authors and performers societies.

Advising Haut.AI on IP matters, including setting up an IP portfolio and IP transfer as a part of an investment deal.

KPMG Law in Estonia

Advokaadibüroo KPMG Law advises several international, largely Baltic-wide, clients primarily on data protection and GDPR-related issues, alongside fintech and payment services work. Clients include Eesti Post, Valio and Versobank in liquidation. Practice head Risto Agur specialises in data protection, IT and banking-related work. The team was further bolstered by the arrival of Lauri Liivat from Eversheds Sutherland Ots & Co in January 2019; he focuses on assisting tech start-ups and emerging growth companies.

Practice head(s):

Risto Agur

Testimonials

‘Competent team, strong legal expertise, thorough knowledge of their field, and the reputation of a trustworthy law firm.’

Key clients

AS Ekspress Meedia

Eesti Post AS

Valio Eesti AS

Versobank AS

International Education Association of Estonia MTÜ (IEAE)

Mooncascade OÜ

Elisa Eesti

Toyota Motor Europe

Asematic

Compara

L’Oréal Baltic SIA

Picote Solutions

Polybius

Southwestern Consulting

Work highlights

Advising Versobank on selling the bank’s software and IT systems.

Advising Picote Solutions on the sale and transfer of its Finnish, EU and US patents and patent applications.

LEXTAL

'Stand-out' senior associate Rauno Kinkar leads the practice at LEXTAL, which specialises in fintech, cryptocurrency licensing, and matters related to web-based services. It is a popular choice for start-ups sector, particularly those focused on the provision of payment services and AI development, as well as those in the media sector. Kinkar and Ants Karu provide ongoing advice to autonomous vehicles company Starship Technologies on data protection and day-to-day IT considerations.

Practice head(s):

Rauno Kinkar

Key clients

Starship Technologies OÜ

Eesti Üliõpilaskondade Liit

Furgner OÜ

Consulting24 OÜ

Marknor OÜ

Krakul OÜ

HVK Business OÜ

Osaühing Polven Foods

CV Keskus OÜ

Tallinna Teaduspark

TEHNOPOL SA

Guaana OÜ

SBC Technologies AG

Work highlights

Advising on compliance work as the Data Protection Officer of the Starship Group, as well as all other day-to-day legal consultations.

Successfully represented Polven in a civil case where a competitor was claiming violation of its trade mark package design.

Advised Wolfprint on numerous cross-border licensing and development agreements with technology giants.

LINKLaw

LINKLaw advises primarily on IP, data protection, and IT projects within the media industry, with a particular focus on television and film, including production companies and video streaming services. Kairi Kurisoo leads the practice, bringing her experience in commercial law and transactions to bear in advising corporate clients on fintech and enterprise software.

Practice head(s):

Kairi Kurisoo

Testimonials

‘Very professional and personal legal service and experienced lawyers.’

Key clients

Sterotek OÜ

Asymmetric Studios OÜ

Viru Keemia Grupp AS

Iglu OÜ

ELKE Mööbel OÜ

Reportauto OÜ

MDC Max

Daetwyler Eesti AS

Reyktal AS

Articard OÜ

Bintime OÜ

Q-step logiciel OÜ

Genius Sports

Services Eesti OÜ

Energiasäästu Invest OÜ

Work highlights

Advising on the IP elements of Asymmetric Studios’ The Adventures of Pinocchio.

Advising Viru Keemia Grupp on the implementation of new enterprise resource planning software.

Advising Energiasäästu Invest on the development of on-demand video platform Kino, including agreements for software and portal development, usage terms of the portal, and data protection policies.

NJORD Law Firm

The practice at NJORD Law Firm is led by newly promoted partner Liisi Jürgen. The group advises a variety of clients in new and existing fields of technology, including cryptocurrency, fundraising platforms, business consultancy and healthcare. Work varies from financing to day-to-day IT and technology considerations. The firm's range of capabilities is best demonstrated by its advice to Digital Mind on a series of legal issues related to its business consultancy products, which include electronic signatures, E-ID, and authentication protocols, with a particular focus on cross-border business co-operation.

TGS Baltic's team specialises primarily in data protection compliance work and advice to clients in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, alongside general IT and IP advice for corporate and banking clients. The practice is led by Sander Kärson and Peeter Viirsalu, who handle licensing, IP considerations and cybersecurity matters. The firm's capabilities in IP are demonstrated by its representation of the Estonian Authors' Society in a number of disputes relating to the intellectual property of the group's members.

Practice head(s):

Sander Kärson; Peeter Viirsalu

Key clients

AAA Legal Services

Intellectual property boutique AAA Legal Services focuses on trade mark and patent registration and enforcement. The team is experienced in Estonian and international trade mark registration, patent applications, and all forms of intellectual property disputes, including litigation and extrajudicial negotiations. Key names include Urmas Kernu and Almar Sehver.

ALTERNA

ALTERNA's practice, which is led by Kati Tamm, handles data protection and intellectual property matters, including copyright and trade mark enforcement.

Practice head(s):

Kati Tamm

FORT

FORT's practice has two key specialisms: handling complex regulatory issues within the telecoms industry; and advising on software development projects within the IT sector, particularly online payments and fintech in line with the firm's banking and finance capabilities. The practice is led by experienced corporate and financing lawyers Kuldar-Jaan Torokoff and Kirsti Pent, who assist clients with contractual and regulatory issues respectively.

RASK Attorneys-at-Law primarily advises technology and telecoms companies on new tech issues such as crytocurrency, blockchain, and AI, alongside handling regulatory compliance and contractual matters. The team also represents clients in IP litigation. The practice is led by Timo Kullerkupp, while associate Karl Erik Esko is widely regarded as an emerging authority on IT and blockchain issues. The firm has a notable focus on start-ups and funding platforms, recently agreeing a partnership with tech incubator Technopol, which has expanded the firm's international client reach.

Practice head(s):

Timo Kullerkupp

Key clients

Cleveron AS

Net Group OÜ

Nordlin Ehitus OÜ and Privaat AB OÜ

Johnny AS

Modera Software AS

ReSys OÜ

Ridango AS

Work highlights

Advising Cleveron on software and product development arrangements.

Advising Net Group on entering the African market for e-government solutions.

Successfully representing Nordlin Ehitus and Privaat AB in a dispute over the IP rights of the architectural designs for a prominent education facility in Tallinn.

TARK

Hannes Küün and Marit Savi lead the practice at TARK, which acts for corporate clients on data protection and privacy compliance issues, as well as being active in IT disputes. Clients include My Fitness and Estonian Railway.